Water sprinkler

ABSTRACT

A water sprinkler of the type having an oscillating paddle pivoted to the body in alignment with but displaced from the nozzle to be in the jetstream thereof, the paddle having a primary ramp face between the pivot pin and the nozzle, and a secondary ramp face extending beyond the pivot pin, and having upper and lower wings above and below the ramp faces.

United States Patent Martin Foreman Merbein, Victoria, Australia 809,609

Mar. 24, 1969 Feb. 16, 1971 Mar. 26, 1968, Aug. 27, 1968 Australia 35544/68 and 42647/68 inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Priority WATER SPRINKLER 13 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 239/230; 239/222. 15; 239/233 Int. Cl B05b 3/02 Field of Search 239/230, 231, 233,222.11, 222.13, 222.15

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,350,015 10/1967 Friedmann et a1 239/230 3,434,665 3/1969 Royer 239/230 FOREIGN PATENTS 935,588 6/1955 Germany 239/231 353,206 5/1961 Switzerland 239/230 Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Thomas C. Culp, Jr. Attorney-Oldham & Oldham ABSTRACT: A water sprinkler of the type having an oscillating paddlepivoted to the body in alignment with but displaced from the nozzle to be in the jetstream thereof, the paddle having a primary ramp face between the pivot pin and the nozzle, and a secondary ramp face extending beyond the pivot pin, and having upper and lower wings above and below the ramp faces.

WATER SPRINKLER This invention relates to awater sprinkler which is suitable for general purposes but particularly useful for the low level watering of orchards and the like.

In the irrigating of orchards it is desirable to limit the amount of water sprayed on to the foliage as far as possible if the water has a high salt content, and this has resulted in a so called under tree watering. However flood irrigation is undesirable for many reasons, particularly because of the salt content, and one of the objects 'of this invention is to provide a sprinkler which will throw a low trajectory spray and thereby sure to operate a spray, the cost being a direct function of pressure, and it therefore becomes desirable to provide a sprinkler which will operate effectively'under a wide range of pressures, including'a comparatively low pressure of say about pounds per square inch or even less. This is achieved'in this invention, by the feature of a sprinkler having a jet and an oscillatory paddle in the jetstream, the oscillatory paddle being hinged intermediate its ends. If the paddle is hinged intermediate its ends it can be very simple and light, and need not necessarily have a high mass which is sometimes considered desirable for sprinklers of the knocker type. A light paddlehinged intermediate its ends will tend to vibrate at high speed but use can still be made'of knocker means to assist in the rotation of the sprinkler head.

In its simplest form the invention consists of a water sprinkler having a mounting sleeve, a hollow stem, cooperable means on the stem and on the mounting sleeve retaining the stem and mounting sleeve together for relative rotational movement, a hollow body secured to the stem, a hollow nozzle secured at an angle to the body and forming with the stem and body a water flow conduit, an oscillating paddle pivoted to the body in alignment with but displaced from the'nozzle to be in the jetstream thereof, a primary ramp face on the paddle between the pivot pin and the nozzle,a secondary ramp face on the paddle extending beyond the pivot pin from the nozzle, and upper and lower wings on the paddle.

Much effort has been made heretofore with sprinklers to sure in water supply. A still further object is to provide a paddle which will be effective for sprinkler jets of varying dimension, so that the characteristics of a sprinkler, say for example high volume to low volume or highpressure to low pressure, can be varied by merely changing the nozzle without the need to change the paddle. I v

The invention may include as a further feature a paddle having a primary ramp and a secondary ramp spaced therefrom, the space between the primary and secondary ramp allowing a free throw of water therethrough during part of the oscillatory movement of the paddle. It is found with a paddle of this type particularly when pivoted intermediate its ends, that an excellent spray can be formed having even distribution characteristics notwithstanding wide variation in paddle dimensions jet size or the like. The window" space between the ramps, by allowing free passage of the stream for a short while, allows the sprinkler to have a greater throw than for a paddle having a continuous ramp surface.

Two embodiments of the invention are described hereunder in some detail with reference to and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sprinkler according to a first embodiment; V

FIG. 2 is a central elevational section of the sprinkler of F IG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section of the paddle taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of FIG. 3; FIG. 6 is apartly sectioned elevation ofa sprinkleraccording to a second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a partly sectioned enlarged plan of the paddle taken on line 77 of FIG. 6; v

FIG. 8 is an end'view of the paddle from line 8-8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

According to the first embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5,

a water sprinkler l0 isformed witha rotational body 11 which is arranged to rotate relatively to a threaded mounting sleeve 12, the rotational body 11 having thereon an arm 13 carrying a pivot pin 14 about which a paddle 33 pivots in an oscillatory ple polytetrafluorethylene) above'and below the threaded sleeve 12, and a spring 22 reacts between the rotational body l1 and the sleeve 12, the spring surrounding the adjustable curve so that the spray is formed firstly by a primary ramp face and secondly by a secondary ramp-face. Further ramp faces can also be introduced if desired. v

In irrigation one of the major losses which occurs is due to "misting of the spray, that is breaking the spray up into excessively small drops, and to avoid this the invention may include as a still further feature of the upper wing being a continuing upper wing (to prevent misting), and with the lower wing on the paddle becoming part of a complex curve near the tip to encourage progressive diffusion of water spray the cross section of the paddle including a smooth curve between the wings, so that the water leaving the paddle will tend to-be in the form of large drops.

Another of the problems which is encountered with water sprinklers of the oscillating paddle type is the difi'iculty in attaining a stable condition, particularly if the paddles are the type which is to throw a low trajectory, and a still further object of this invention is to provide a paddle which will be effective notwithstanding wide dimensional variations which can exist under production conditions, or wide variations of presstem and urging downwardly on the top washer 21. This then applies a frictional engagement between the washers and the stem, and the friction can be adjusted by screwing the adjustable stern further into or out of the rotational body.

The rotational body 11 isin the form of an elbow and is provided with an internal thread at its outlet and 25, the outlet end being angled upwardly at about 12 to 30 to the horizontal, when the stem is vertical, and the threaded aperture therein retains the threaded end of a nozzle 26. Apertures of the rotational body lie in the same vertical plane, but the jet is provided with an orifice 27 which is off center to increase (or decrease) paddle reaction.

The arm 13 extends forwardly in front of the nozzle 26, and the depending pivot pin 14 is disposed to one side of the jetstream when the sprinkler is operating, and the end of the arm 13 has a depending lug 30 having a plastic coating 30a thereon, which constitutes a stop for the paddle 15.

The pivot pin 14 which depends from the arm pivotally supports a paddle 33 which is small in dimension and light in weight, but the paddle extends forwardly and rearwardly of the pivot pin to providea secondary ramp face 34 and primary ramp face 35 respectively. The primary ramp face 35 is arranged at an angle different from that of the secondary ramp face 34. However the cross section of the paddle includes a lower wing 37 which is substantially horizontal and an upper wing 38 which is sloped upwardly at about 20 to the horizontal on the primary ramp but approximately at right angles to the secondary ramp, and a smooth curve therebetween, so that water issuing from either ramp face will tend to have its droplet size determined by the space inbetween the wings and the radius of curvature. Thus if the spacing and radius of curvature is arranged to be slightly larger than the maximum size droplet which can normally be formed, the drop size of the water issuing can be retained substantially large and misting" of the spray substantially avoided.

With many sprinklers there is a tendency to overwater at the locality of the sprinkler stand, and the configuration of the oscillating paddle includes a slightly dished rear end, (the primary ramp face 35 as viewed in FIG. 5) this giving a gentler approach of the jetstream along the paddle and in turn forming a fewer number of back drops.

In operation the jet of water strikes the primary ramp face 35 (nearest the jet) causing a diversion of the stream, and at the same time creating a reaction force on the paddle to move it about its pivot arm away from the stream. As the stream is diverted this allows the other end to enter the stream from the jet, and the secondary ramp face is then driven back out of the stream by the reaction until it strikes the adjustable stop. This process repeats, and for example frequencies in the order of 2,000 oscillations per minute can be achieved without misting of the stream, but this in turn provides a very even distribution of the water. For example a coefficient of in the order of 85 percent has been achieved. Rotation of the sprinkler is achieved firstly by the reaction to diversion of the jetstream, and secondly by the oscillating paddle striking the stop.

The second embodiment of FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 is ofa sprin kler which will remain effective notwithstanding wide tolerance variations in sprinkler parts.

According to this embodiment a sprinkler 41 of the oscillating paddle type is provided with a rotational body 42 having a lower stem 43 surrounded by a threaded mounting sleeve 44 adapted to threadably engage a stand pipe or fitting, as in the first embodiment.

The rotational body 42 is provided with a yoke shaped arm 47 having an upper portion 48 and a lower portion 49, the upper and lower portions containing between them a threaded jet aperture which threadably retains a jet 50, the jet in this embodiment being concentric throughout its length.

The upper portion of the yoke-shaped arm 47 is provided at its swinging end (that is the end distant from the threaded sleeve) with an abutment member 53 which projects downwardly and between the abutment member and the threaded sleeve is a boss 54 extending both upwardly and downwardly of the upper portion 48, and is aligned with an upwardly projecting pivot 55 on the lower portion 49. A pivot aperture extends through the bossand pivotally engages an upstanding pivot pin 57 on an oscillatory paddle 58, the pin 57 functioning as an upwardly projecting spring retaining pin which is provided with a transverse slot 60, and this engages a formed end on a helical spring 61.

An adjustable cap 63 frictionally engages the upwardly projecting portion of the boss 54, the adjustable cap also having a spring retaining slot 64 in an internal-depending spigot 65 which engages the other end of the spring 61, and by this means spring tension is applied to the upstanding pivot on the oscillatory paddle 58 urging the paddle to return to the influence of the stream.

The lower portion is provided with the pivot pin 55, which is an upstanding pin which is an upstanding pin which engages in a depending bearing member 67 on the oscillatory paddle 58, the lower pivot pin 55 being of conical shape so that a small area of contact exists between the inner end of the bearing member and the pivot pin, this reducing danger of seizing of the bearing in the event of dirt being washed thereinto.

The paddle 58 itself is of general curved form, and is provided with a primary ramp face 70 and a secondary ramp face 71. The primary ramp face is of U-section (FIG. 8) having a compound curve of such dimension that droplets of water tend to be broken up into large size so that they carry well away from the sprinkler when the sprinkler is in operation. The secondary ramp face 71 can also be of slightly curved form, but is of less importance and can if desired be flat. An upper wing 73 extends between the primary and secondary ramp faces, the upper wing functioning to limit the upward divergence of the spray emanating from the sprinkler. A lower wing 74 is of somewhat similar shape to the upper wing, but in this embodiment reduces in width towards the secondary ramp to facilitate an even spread of spray close to the sprinkler. A web 76 joins the upper and lower wings for part of their length, but between the web and the secondary ramp is a space designated 77, conveniently termed "a window, through which the spray can pass during part of the traverse of the oscillatory paddle as it oscillates.

The primary ramp face is moved by reaction out of the line of the stream and can swing clear as far as the preset spring tension will allow. This diverts the stream, allowing the secondary ramp to be swung across the streamline. The spring reaction returns the paddle until the secondary ramp intersects the stream and the reaction then drives the paddle against stop its stop giving a positive driving impact. As this second action occurs the primary ramp is forced into the stream, diverting it and the action then repeats.

In this embodiment the axis of oscillation of the paddle intersects the axis of the jet along which the water flows so that the water in flowing outwardly from the jet will cause the paddle to oscillate, and to still further facilitate the geometry of the device, the axis of the trajectory of the spray emanating from the jet also intersects the leading edge of the primary ramp and the trailing edge of the secondary ramp, although this positioning is not critical.

The paddle can be returned by having an angled pin on the paddle web protruding far enough so that either it or the secondary ramp is in contact with the stream so deleting the spring.

A brief consideration of this embodiment will indicate that the invention is exceedingly simple but it is found in practice to result in a spray unit which is most useful under a wide range of practical conditions. The device can conveniently be formed from moulded plastics material, and can therefore be mass-produced at low cost.

Iclaim:

1. A water sprinkler having a mounting sleeve, a hollow stem, cooperable means on the stem and on the mounting sleeve retaining the stem and mounting sleeve together for relative rotational movement, a hollow body secured to the stem having a portion disposed at an angle thereto, a hollow nozzle secured to said portion of the body and forming with the stem and body a water flow conduit, an oscillating paddle pivoted to the body on an axis offset from the jetstream of the nozzle and intersecting obliquely the jetstream issuing therefrom, a primary ramp face on the paddle between the pivot pin and the nozzle, a secondary ramp face on the paddle extending beyond the pivot pin from the nozzle, and upper and lower wings on the paddle.

2. A water sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein the slope of the primary ramp face includes a compound curve having a smooth cross-sectional curve between the wings.

3. A water sprinkler according to claim 2 wherein the slope of the secondary ramp face also includes a compound curve having a smooth cross-sectional curvebetween the wings.

4. A water sprinkler according to claim 1 further comprising a head on the lower end of the stern, washers on the stem abutting the shoulder of the head, and a spring surrounding the stern urging the head into engagement with the washers.

5. A water sprinkler having a mounting sleeve, a hollow stem projecting through the mounting sleeve, a head on one end of the stem retaining the mounting sleeve to the stem, a

hollow body secured to the other end of the stern, a nozzle in the hollow body, an arm projecting from the hollow body having a depending pivot pin adjacent its end and an abutment at its end, an oscillatory paddle pivoted on the pivot pin, the paddle being pivoted on an axis offset from the jetstream of the nozzle and intersecting obliquely the jetstream issuing therefrom, the end of the paddle nearestthe nozzle having upper and lower wings and a primary ramp face between the upper and lower wings, the end of the paddle more distant from the nozzle having a secondary face between the said upper and lower wings, the ramp faces of the paddle being at such an angle relative to the jetstream'that when the primary ramp face is in the jet stream, it causes diversion of the stream thereby creating reaction forces on the paddle to move it in one direction until the secondary ramp face is in the jet stream, whereupon the secondary reaction force urges the primary ramp face back into the jetstream.

6. A water sprinkler according to claim 5 wherein the upper wing of the primary face slopes upwardly but the lower wing is substantially horizontal.

7. A water sprinkler according to claim 5, wherein the nozzle threadably engages the body and contains an orifice adjustable relative to the paddle by rotation of the nozzle.

8. A water sprinkler according to claim 5, wherein the primary ramp face and secondary ramp face are continuous.

9. A water sprinkler according to claim 5, wherein the pri mary ramp face and secondary ramp face are discontinuous but are interconnected by said wings.

10. A water sprinkler having a mounting sleeve, a hollow stem, cooperable means on the stem and on the mounting sleeve retaining the stern and mounting sleeve together for relative rotational movement, a hollow body secured to the stem, a hollow nozzle secured at an angle to the body and forming with the stern and body a water flow conduit, an arm projecting forwardly of the nozzle and having an upper portion and lower portion with a nozzle disposed therebetween, an abutment member of one of said-portions, an oscillating paddle having a pivot pin protruding through one of said portions, and a torsion spring engaging the pivot pin and applying a torque thereto.

11. A water sprinkler according to claim 10 further comprising a boss on the upper portion of said arm having an aperture therethrough, the pivot pin of the paddle being rotationally movable in said boss aperture, a lower bearing between the paddle and the lower portion of said arm in alignment with the pivot pin, and an adjustable cap on an upwardly extending portion of said boss, said torsion spring engaging the pivot pin at its one end and the boss at its other end.

12. A water sprinkler according to claim 11 wherein the ramp faces of the paddle are discontinuous to provide a window opening therebetween, the angles of the ramp face being such that the jetstream passes through the window opening during oscillation of the paddle.

13. A water sprinkler according to claim 11 further comprising an abutment on the paddle cooperable with said abutment on said arm and operable to limit paddle movement. 

1. A water sprinkler having a mounting sleeve, a hollow stem, cooperable means on the stem and on the mounting sleeve retaining the stem and mounting sleeve together for relative rotational movement, a hollow body secured to the stem having a portion disposed at an angle thereto, a hollow nozzle secured to said portion of the body and forming with the stem and body a water flow conduit, an oscillating paddle pivoted to the body on an axis offset from the jetstream of the nozzle and intersecting obliquely the jetstream issuing therefrom, a primary ramp face on the paddle between the pivot pin and the nozzle, a secondary ramp face on the paddle extending beyond the pivot pin from the nozzle, and upper and lower wings on the paddle.
 2. A water sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein the slope of the primary ramp face includes a compound curve having a smooth cross-sectional curve between the wings.
 3. A water sprinkler according to claim 2 wherein the slope of the secondary ramp face also includes a compound curve having a smooth cross-sectional curve between the wings.
 4. A water sprinkler according to claim 1 further comprising a head on the lower end of the stem, washers on the stem abutting the shoulder of the head, and a spring surrounding the stem urging the head into engagement with the washers.
 5. A water sprinkler having a mounting sleeve, a hollow stem projecting through the mounting sleeve, a head on one end of the stem retaining the mounting sleeve to the stem, a hollow body secured to the other end of the stem, a nozzle in the hollow body, an arm projecting from the hollow body having a depending pivot pin adjacent its end and an abutment at its end, an oscillatory paddle pivoted on the pivot pin, the paddle being pivoted on an axis offset from the jetstream of the nozzle and intersecting obliquely the jetstream issuing therefrom, the end of the paddle nearest the nozzle having upper and lower wings and a primary ramp face between the upper and lower wings, the end of the paddle more distant from the nozzle having a secondary face between the said upper and lower wings, the ramp faces of the paddle being at such an angle relative to the jetstream that when the primary ramp face is in the jet stream, it causes diversion of the stream thereby creating reaction forces on the paddle to move it in one direction until the secondary ramp face is in the jet stream, whereupon the secondary reaction force urges the primary ramp face back into the jetstream.
 6. A water sprinkler according to claim 5 wherein the upper wing of the primary face slopes upwardly but the lower wing is substantially horizontal.
 7. A water sprinkler according to claim 5, wherein the nozzle threadably engages the body and contains an orifice adjustable relative to the paddle by rotation of the nozzle.
 8. A water sprinkler according to claim 5, wherein the primary ramp face and secondary ramp face are continuous.
 9. A water sprinkler according to claim 5, wherein the primary ramp face and secondary ramp face are discontinuous but are interconnected by said wings.
 10. A water sprinkler having a mounting sleeve, a hollow stem, cooperable means on the stem and on the mounting sleeve retaining the stem and mounting sleeve together for relative rotational movement, a hollow body secured to the stem, a hollow nozzle secured at an angle to the body and forming with the stem and body a water flow conduit, an arm projecting forwardly of the nozzle and having an upper portion and lower portion with a nozzle disposed therebetween, an abutment member of one of said portions, an oscillating paddle having a pivot pin protruding through one of said portions, and a torsion spring engaging the pivot pin and applying a torque thereto.
 11. A water sprinkler according to claim 10 further comprising a boss on the upper portion of said arm having an aperture therethrough, the pivot pin of the paddle being rotationally movable in said boss aperture, a lower bearing between the paddle and the lower portion of said arm in alignment with the pivot pin, and an adjustable cap on an upwardly extending portion of said boss, said torsion spring engaging the pivot pin at its one end and the boss at its other end.
 12. A water sprinkler according to claim 11 wherein the ramp faces of the paddle are discontinuous to provide a window opening therebetween, the angles of the ramp face being such that the jetstream passes through the window opening during oscillation of the paddle.
 13. A water sprinkler according to claim 11 further comprising an abutment on the paddle cooperable with said abutment on said arm and operable to limit paddle movement. 